The pandemic transformed the way we work, with the adoption of hybrid work models being key to providing flexibility and inclusivity at the office. Teknion’s newest solution, Kiosk, is a blend of furniture and architecture, a collection of freestanding modules that define work hubs and provide tools for collaboration.
The idea of coming together again in the workplace served as the inspiration for the product, which can be used to support a variety of groups and their functions in the workplace. How do you define a space in the open plan that is really tailored around meeting experiences and just getting people together? I think that was the genesis of Kiosk,” said Dennis Cheng, senior industrial designer at Teknion.
Each Kiosk option can be used individually or paired in clusters, ideal for small huddles or larger gatherings. “Everyone works differently, it’s not about a one-size-fits-all approach. There’s a lot of experimentation going on right now,” Cheng noted. “We wanted to ensure that our solution was adaptable, that users could fine-tune it and tweak it to meet their team’s needs.”
With nine unique configurations, users can update interiors with whiteboards, planters, and even a recycling bin. Cheng explained that he looked at a number of meeting spaces to identify essential elements. Rather than create a complex unit with a prescribed usage, the idea was to present a pared-down piece. “We identified key functional attributes necessary in the typical office environment. The modular aspect is important, it is plug-and-play. You can just wheel it into a space and it’s ready to go.”
As employers rethink the furniture they include in the workplace, Cheng said that with Kiosk, function is foremost. “We were trying to find this balance between furniture and architecture. By creating this neutral backdrop, the focus remains on the people in the middle of the room. Kiosk isn’t trying to be the star of the show.”
Made of a frame of steel tubing, and laminate or felt for backings and bases, Kiosk blends seamlessly with almost any style. This subtle material palette was curated to be timeless, never trendy. Unlike other office furniture that is moved regularly, Kiosk was designed as an anchor piece. “Tables and chairs are frequently replaced, there’s a different level of mobility there,” Cheng said. “Kiosk is defining the perimeters of a space, so we anticipate that it would be moved or reconfigured a couple of times a month, not changed every day.”
Cheng also explained that Kiosk had to be light enough for people to be able to move it quickly and easily, but substantial enough that it wouldn’t fall or sustain damage. “I think our choice of hardware and the casters does enable a quicker change or movement. But there was this balancing act, mobile versus maneuverable, that we were trying to achieve. Kiosk doesn’t rely on add-ons or all these other things to supplement it.”
Ease of use has found people eager to engage with Kiosk, experimenting with combinations to create personalized units that enhance the work experience. “We know that people want more autonomy in the workplace, that they can influence some change in their envtironment,” Cheng said. “An employee doesn’t have to call in facilities or have a bunch of installers move Kiosk around. You can just tweak it as you go, and I think that level of engagement is crucial.”
Kiosk is not, however, like many popular contract furnishings on the market, a basic storage unit. “There are a lot of beautiful bookcases or shelves that we see, but we actually shied away from offering too much traditional storage,” Cheng explained. “We had to bridge utility with a different take on core elements.”
The idea of coming together again in the workplace with both in-person and virtual participants, and the equipment needed to host presentations via screen, prompted the inclusion of closed sections to hold monitors and mounted cameras. “We were thinking about openness for display, but the solid backs are required for hosting the technology, and then the rest is about the peripheral boundary partitions,” Cheng noted.
We can expect another iteration of Kiosk in the near future, but Cheng noted that just as the workplace changes constantly, so too do Teknion’s ideas about what’s next. “I think all businesses are adopting this mindset of experimentation right now. We’re figuring out what works, plotting data, and refining along the way to create furniture that is flexible.”